D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kat ---

"Hold on, can't we just teleport out once the job is done?" asked Kat.

"Indeed we can," said Hunter. "We," Hunter pointed to Kamiko, Kat, and the bag containing Lily "could simply leave the world. It might be annoying to leave without letting everyone know we're fine… but we could do it. Bower? Not so much,"

Kat winced upon hearing that final part and turned to the man in question. "Sorry… I guess I wasn't thinking about it like that? Um… you could just stay here outside off the bubble I guess?"

Hunter cut in with, "That is simply one option. The other would be to accept a longer, more drawn out fight with the drake. I still have plenty of quite lethal ammunition… just none quite so lethal as the SSB. Even then, firing the SSB inside of a pocket dimension might not be the best idea… assuming the drake isn't deposited here of course,"

"Um… could you perhaps explain how the bullet works?" asked Kamiko. "Or I mean… not how it works but what it does?"

Hunter gave Kamiko a nod and began to explain, "Indeed. Think of the bullet like… spatial shrapnel combined with a space grenade. It essentially tears through the nearby space in more than the standard three dimensions creating a number of spatial sheers that slice through whatever I fire the bullet at.

"Now, space is pretty good at fixing itself back up, so normally things would just be a touch weak in that area… but because there's a pocket dimension right here? Dimensionally speaking? Then I suspect the bullet to break open the old path that was used to kidnap the drake.

"It will either leave a small gap that we can go through to fight the drake, or it will destabilise the whole bubble and spit the drake out. Whatever the case, we'll need to wait a second or two after the path is blown upon because we don't want anyone charging into a space sheer and getting cut in half before they notice,"

"Right… um… so… is it even safe to fire a bullet like that inside the pocket?" asked Kamiko.

"I would assume so," said Hunter. "If the pocket survives the first bullet I would expect it to survive the second. When it comes to things like this, the space is either too weak, or sufficiently strong… or perhaps strong is the wrong word? Flexible? Stable? Something like that,"

"Isn't it being regularly worn away by the drake? So… would that change things?" asked Kat.

Hunter shrugged, "Space is weird when you start working with pocket dimensions. It'll be very obvious if we need to worry about the space collapsing. Though we appear to have taken over the conversation. Bower? What do you think about all of this?"

Bower let out a long sigh, "I can't be too sure if I'm honest. Puts me in a mighty difficult situation. Sure the easy thing to do is stay here, or head back home now. I've got you galls where you needed to go… but it is a mighty unsatisfying way to end a hunt. Of course, I've got no desire to be stuck in a bubble for the rest of me life either so it might be the best choice.

Bower let out another breath of air as he considered what he'd heard so far and what he was likely to do. He was an old man, and he signed up because he wasn't scared of dying. Starvation on the other hand? He had to admit to being a touch afraid of that still. He'd struggled for rations more than once throughout his life, and he did NOT want to go out like that.

Of course, he tried to ensure none of that showed on his face as he asked, "How likely are ya to need that bullet anyway?"

Hunter shrugged, "This will likely be a slog fest between Kat, myself, and the dragons regeneration. There's almost no way the bullet kills the drake but it may do more damage in a moment then the two of us could do in five minutes of all out attacks. The real issue would be if Kat or myself gets low on energy… but I can't say if that will be a problem or not before we go inside.

Honestly, part of me wants to ask Lily and Kamiko to stay back as well… but I doubt they'd agree,"

"I… I wouldn't want to speak for Lily but… I want to see this through to the end. I trust that I'll be evacuated in time if something were to nearly get me… so as long as I'm not stupid it should be fine… and I want to help. If I can ensure you get even just a few more shots off? I'll count that as worthwhile," said Kamiko.

Hunter gave a 'see what I mean' looked to Bower as she waited for him to speak up. Kat let out a long sigh as she realised that if Kamiko was going there was no way Lily would stay away from the fight either. She was so happy just getting a chance to guard… and forcing her to skip out on something like this? Kat didn't think she could do it.

"Not making it easy on me are ya?" asked Bower with a shake of his head. "Guess I'll have to risk it then,"

"Eh… don't feel pressured," said Kamiko. "This is our job technically and we have a lot of safeties you don't!"

"And I have a crossbow," answered Bower grimly.

Kamiko glared back at him. "I don't want to accept that as an answer… and I mean… we've got a hole bunch of food and stuff in our rings! We might not be able to leave the rings behind, because we gotta return those… but like we can leave some supplies with you if it really gets that bad. I'm… I don't know how long the bubble will last but we've got… like years of stuff,"

"Not to fault your enthusiasm Kamiko but a lot of it is perishable that only keeps because it's stored in the rings. Not to say we don't have stuff that can last Bower for a good while, because we do, just not as much as you might think," added Kat.

Kamiko frowned and glanced through her ring a bit… only to realise that Kat was correct. "I don't like it… but I guess it is what it is. Still… you kept us safe so far and that means a lot. You really don't have to do this,"

"Aye but it's my world too Pinky. I said it before, I'm old and I'm willing to bet a bit," laughed Bower.

"Perhaps, but out of respect for your drive, and Kamiko's concern I will not make uses of the second bullet until it appears to be absolutely necessary. It is a powerful tool, but I have a near endless supply of bullets for this mission," stated Hunter.

"Right so like what IS the plan?" asked Kat. "I get that we go in, we fight it, and then hopefully it dies and we don't… but any strategies for us Hunter?"

"I recommend you stand around its face and keep it busy from there. A breath attack would be the worse case scenario for us so if it appears to be readying one, either uppercut it, or slam its face into the ground and force it to discharge that way. Lily would be best in the air behind it, and Kamiko may need to sneak onto its back to deal damage. Stay tuned to мѵʟ

"Do NOT go inside of it. While I have killed monsters that way, the inside of a drake like this is going to be exceptionally hostile to life. It may even have something resembling a demon's stomach so don't think that's safe.

"Bower I want you going for things like its eyes and ears if you can. I know you have much less ammo then me, and while I will be making those same shots I will be going for maximum damage as I do so. Know that more delicate organs and joints require more power to reform then skin and bone.

"It really is just a big scary dragon. Watch out for the tail and wings, if it has any. It probably won't fly but if it does try to ground it again. If you're on its back watch out for vents or spines, and maybe its head if it's neck is long and can contort sufficiently. That's really all there is too it,"

"Seems… oddly simple," said Kat.

Hutner shrugged. "This is not some mastermind that we need to outwit nor a horde of mixed monsters all requiring their own tactics. I said it was going to be a slugfest and I meant it. We need to do more damage to it then it can do to us. It has big scary teeth and claws, and a breath attack that can annihilate just about anything… avoid those and you'll hopefully be fine.

Oh, and I guess be aware of whatever special abilities it has. Can't know them before we go in so you can't plan for them,"

Kat let out a long sigh, "Fair enough. I'll just wake Lily then we can begin…"